Title 30-A, Title 30-A

Beginning in 2023, and every 5 years thereafter, the department shall classify the service center communities in the State, using the most recent data available, into no less than 4 categories based on a methodology established by rule. The department shall maintain a list of ser…

The department, the Maine State Housing Authority and the Department of Economic and Community Development shall share data useful in assessing and determining growth management policies and standards.

A comprehensive plan adopted or amended by a municipality or multimunicipal region under this subchapter remains in effect until amended or repealed in accordance with the procedures, goals and guidelines established in this subchapter.

There is established a program of growth management to accomplish the goals of this subchapter.

This article does not apply to municipalities within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

Through the exercise of its home rule authority, subject to the express limitations and requirements of this subchapter, every municipality may: [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §22 (AMD).] 1. Planning. Plan for its future development and growth; 2. Growth management program. Adopt and a…

This section governs a municipality's or multimunicipal region's responsibility for the preparation or amendment of its growth management program. When procedures for the adoption of comprehensive plans and ordinances are governed by other provisions of this Title or municipal ch…

This section governs cooperative growth management efforts conducted by 2 or more municipalities. [PL 2001, c. 578, §14 (AMD).] 1. Within municipality. A municipality participating in cooperative growth management activities may exercise its land use planning and management autho…

A growth management program must include at least a comprehensive plan, as described in subsections 1 to 4, and an implementation program as described in subsection 5. [PL 2025, c. 393, §34 (AMD).] 1. Inventory, analysis and needs assessment. A comprehensive plan must include an …

In order to comply with the requirement in section 4326 for each municipality to adopt land use policies and ordinances to discourage incompatible development, a municipality may adopt a transfer of development rights program for the transfer of development rights within its boun…

The department shall conduct an ongoing evaluation process to determine the effectiveness of state, regional and local efforts under this chapter to achieve the purposes and goals of this chapter. The department shall seek the assistance of other state agencies. If requested, all…

(CONFLICT: Text as repealed by PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §35 and amended by PL 2025, c. 393, §35) The department may enter into financial assistance grants only to the extent that funds are available. In making grants, the department shall consider the need for planning in a munici…

1. Comprehensive plans. 2. Growth management programs. A. [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §35 (RP).] B. (CONFLICT: Text as repealed by PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §35) [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §35 (RP).] B. (CONFLICT: Text as amended by PL 2025, c. 393, §37) Certification by the department …

This subchapter provides express limitations on municipal home rule authority.

A municipal zoning ordinance may provide for any form of zoning consistent with this chapter, subject to the following provisions. [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).] 1. Public participation required. The public shall be given an adequate oppor…

Any municipality which adopts a zoning ordinance shall establish a board of appeals subject to this section. [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).] 1. Jurisdiction; procedure. The board of appeals shall hear appeals from any action or failure to a…

Notwithstanding section 4353, a municipality by ordinance may authorize a code enforcement officer to issue a permit to an owner of a dwelling for the purpose of making a dwelling accessible to a person with a disability who resides in or regularly uses the dwelling. If the permi…

Subject to the requirements and restrictions set forth in this section, a municipality may enact an ordinance under its home rule authority requiring the construction of infrastructure improvements or the payment of impact fees instead of the construction of infrastructure improv…

Any application fee charged by a municipality for an application for any land use permit issued by the municipality may not exceed the reasonable cost of processing, review, regulation and supervision of the application by the municipality and its consultants and the administrati…

Any moratorium adopted by a municipality on the processing or issuance of development permits or licenses must meet the following requirements. [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).] 1. Necessity. The moratorium must be needed: A. To prevent a sho…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Community living arrangement" means a housing facility for 8 or fewer persons with disabilities that is approved, authorized, certified or license…

1. Definition. As used in this section, "homeless shelter" means a housing facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary overnight accommodations to persons experiencing homelessness who are guests in either a dormitory-style or dwelling-unit-style arrangement or…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Manufactured housing" means a structural unit or units designed for occupancy and constructed in a manufacturing facility and transported, by the …

A municipality must notify a public drinking water supplier if a proposed land use project: [PL 1999, c. 761, §10 (NEW).] 1. Source water protection area. Is within its source water protection area; and 2. Reviewed; abutters notified. Is reviewed by a municipal reviewing authorit…

It is the policy of this State, with respect to commercial landfill facilities: [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).] 1. State and municipal control. To affirm the importance of state and municipal control over the establishment of new commercial…

1. Ordinance review and update. A municipality that enacts a rate of growth ordinance shall review and update the ordinance at least every 3 years to determine whether the rate of growth ordinance is still necessary and how the rate of growth ordinance may be adjusted to meet cur…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Coastal area" has the same meaning as in Title 38, section 1802, subsection 1. [PL 2009, c. 615, Pt. G, §2 (NEW).] B. "Renewable ocean energy proj…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Small wireless facility" means a wireless facility each antenna of which could fit within an enclosure of no more than 3 cubic feet and of which a…

1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "tiny home" has the same meaning as in Title 29‑A, section 101, subsection 80‑C. 2. Location of tiny homes. A municipality shall permit a tiny home to be placed or erected on an individual house lot where single-family dwellings ar…

For an affordable housing development approved on or after the implementation date, a municipality with density requirements shall apply density requirements in accordance with this section. [PL 2023, c. 192, §1 (AMD).] 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "affordable…

1. (CONFLICT: Text as repealed and replaced by PL 2025, c. 385, §7) Use allowed. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, except Title 12, chapter 423‑A, for any area in which residential uses are allowed, including as a conditional use, a municipality shall allow at…

1. Use permitted. Except as provided in Title 12, chapter 423‑A, a municipality shall allow an accessory dwelling unit to be located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling unit or multi-unit structure in any area in which residential uses are permitted, including as a condit…

This section governs the responsibilities and roles of municipalities in achieving the statewide and regional housing production goals set by the Department of Economic and Community Development in Title 5, section 13056, subsection 9. [PL 2021, c. 672, §7 (NEW).] 1. Fair housing…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Child care facility" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 8301‑A, subsection 1‑A, paragraph B. [PL 2025, c. 288, §2 (NEW).] B. "Family chi…

A municipality shall allow residential units within buildings located in an area zoned for commercial use, including, but not limited to, buildings that are vacant or partially vacant retail property, except when a municipality determines that flooding or other natural hazards in…

1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "parking agreement" means a legally binding agreement between a property developer and the owner of an off-site parking facility to provide required parking spaces within 0.25 miles of a development site. 2. Limitation of minimum parki…

This subchapter may be known and cited as "the Informed Growth Act."

The provisions of this subchapter do not apply to a municipality unless the municipality has adopted an ordinance that specifically adopts by reference the provisions of this subchapter. Nothing in this subchapter limits the home rule authority of municipalities to adopt ordinanc…

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2007, c. 347, §1 (NEW).] 1. Comprehensive economic impact area. "Comprehensive economic impact area" means the geographic area affected by a proposed large-sca…

As part of its review of a land use permit application for a large-scale retail development, a municipal reviewing authority shall require the preparation of a comprehensive economic impact study. [PL 2007, c. 347, §1 (NEW).] 1. Qualified preparer. A comprehensive economic impact…

1. Public participation required. The municipal reviewing authority shall provide the public with an adequate opportunity to be heard prior to the approval of a permit for a large-scale retail development. 2. Notice. Notice of the public hearing on the land use permit application…

The municipal reviewing authority shall evaluate the impacts of the proposed large-scale retail development based on the comprehensive economic impact study; other materials submitted to the municipal reviewing authority by any person, including the applicant, state agencies, non…

The provisions of this subchapter granting persons, municipalities, the State and other entities the opportunity to provide input on a municipal land use permit or approval do not, and may not be interpreted to, authorize persons or entities who would not, absent the provisions o…

This subchapter does not apply to a retail business establishment proposing to occupy an existing building in which the most recent occupant was a large-scale retail development as long as no increase greater than 20,000 square feet in gross floor area is proposed.

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).] 1. Densely developed area. "Densely developed area" means any commercial, industrial or com…

This subchapter does not apply to: [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).] 1. Previously approved subdivisions. Proposed subdivisions approved by the planning board or the municipal officials before September 23, 1971 in accordance with laws then i…